Jewish Humor: What the Best Jewish Jokes Say About the Jews

I bought this book and am very pleased. It is a reaaly good read and informative as to why the jokes are funny. I found it helpful however I wish it had mr jokes and less explaination. Still its a good addition to my collection.

I liked the format of the book, I was so surprised when I found that I had read through 50% of the book in one sitting. The jokes are really engaging, and they show so many subtle nuances of Jewish culture I didn’t know about. I would recommend this book to accompany anyone studying Judaism seriously in order to convert to submerge into their culture and in addition to converting for the religious ideology. I’d also recommend this to anyone with anti Semitic views because the book really dispels a lot of stereotypes in surprising and honest ways. Lastly, I recommend this book to everyone interested in philosophy and bettering themselves because of how humor reveals our values and who we are.I gave this book a 5 for how easy and interesting it was to read, and for the thorough, thorough research and thought put into it. (Check the references, there’s so many and so many jokes there too you don’t want to miss, and acknowledgements show how much the author cared about giving us a great book.)

This is the second book I've read about Jewish humor.* This one is written by a rabbi who takes his Jewish jokes seriously. What he seems to be doing is explaining Jewishness through their humor. He is very earnest and clear in his explanations. I walked away with a much clearer understanding of the Jewish mind and culture after reading this book.* The previous one was "Let There Be Laughter A Treasury of Great Jewish Humor and What It Means" by Krasny, Michael.

I have been a fan of Tellushkin since I first learned of "Jewish Literacy." Jewish Humor is wonderful. He is the right man to tell the story. I am also a fan of books full of jokes, especially when thought has gone into the choice of jokes and the commentary. I'm just over 1/2 way through and am still finding it fascinating. I've sent three other copies as gifts already, and have gotten fantastic feedback. A Talmudic question is raised by the decision of whether one should read "Humor" first, or Joys of Yiddish, also easily found on Amazon. I'd suggest ordering both.

I saw Rodney Dangerfield 'allavahshulim'(rest in peace)answer a heckler at Detroit's Ford Auditorium,with:"I remember when I had my first beer."I still use it-but I don't consider it specifically,Jewish.And although Rabbi Telushkin goes into great detail(beginning in the introduction)into why this isn't about ethnic humor in general,my favorite example is a footnote in chapter one(p.29)while Telushkin was being heckled...whoops.."challenged my assertion that early Judaism promoted the parent-child relationship:...('heckler')"Isn't it true that God's first commandment to Abraham was to leave his father's home?..."It is true,"I answered(Telushkin)."But he was seventy-five at the time(Genesis 12.4);he was entitled."Lb. for lb.,Telushkin is the hippest rabbi I can think of(I'm a non-Orthodox Jew who attends services at a Conservative synagogue);I'd rate the late Abraham Joshua Heschel,second.Telushkin has written pretty terrifically on the widest range of subjects to rate him otherwise.

The seller asked me for a review of this book on historical Jewish comedy, It is an excellent compilation of stories and their analysis by the famous Rabbi Telushkin. It's funny for everyone, not just for Jewish people. I wholeheartedly give it 5 stars. It's difficult to put down once you've started (and the author chose the great Moose and Moskowitz Woody Allen story as one of the most representative of the multiple level jokes).

This was such an insightful overview of Jewish Humor. The book is exactly what it purports to be. Since having read this (three times now), I've often used "Two Men Climb Down A Chimney" as a way to introduce newcomers to form of the Talmud.

I can’t stop thinking about Henny Youngman’s story: a lady at the next table complains, “This food is terrible—and the portions are so small!”Henny the great genius then says, “This food is fit for a king!”“Here, King!”“Here, King!”

the recipient thought it was great

Humour is probably more important than knowledge or wisdom and we, Jews, always knew how to make fun of ourselves. Delightful reading.

Excellent. Gives an understanding of Jewish culture and uses humour to exemplify.